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Railfreight

12467…14

Comments

  • #152
    RonanM123
    Closed Accounts Posts: 120 ✭✭RonanM123


    I see IRN made specific referance to Waterford. The ship that IWT liners load onto in Dublin also calles at Waterford.


  • #153
    Losty Dublin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,245 ✭✭✭✭Losty Dublin


    LivelineDipso wrote: »
    In many countries wagonload is thriving too. Depends on the mentality of the rail operator.

    We do not have a rail operator with a mind.

    As for the Tipp mining, I would not be too optimistic that ever going by rail. I would be amazed if Foynes ever saw another train. I was down there last week and the route has fallen into bits in the last 2 years.

    The CIE 'Care and Maintainance' or 'Keep on Trucking' program is the only show down there now.

    I know some countries still have it but it's very much the exception to have stop start trains with manual loading. The heyday of brown van trains has been replaced by White Van Man and soft top trucks, a market no railway can compete with. What we have is a rail operator which is told by it's paymasters to run it's freight on a stand alone basis only as road haulage cleans up shop; very little it can do in that regard.

    You willbe delighted to know that professional track engineers have walked the branch and surevyed it this year. The reports which came back are of a line that will cope with reasonable speeds without much relaying needed. There are soft spots that need attention and a viaduct which requires a lot of strenghening but asides from them, that's it. On this basis, the expenditure required to reopen the line is not excessive provided that the traffic flow will be provided on the line.


  • #154
    foggy_lad
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,373 ✭✭✭✭foggy_lad


    Losty Dublin wrote: »
    I know some countries still have it but it's very much the exception to have stop start trains with manual loading. The heyday of brown van trains has been replaced by White Van Man and soft top trucks, a market no railway can compete with. What we have is a rail operator which is told by it's paymasters to run it's freight on a stand alone basis only as road haulage cleans up shop; very little it can do in that regard.

    You will be delighted to know that professional track engineers have walked the branch and surveyed it this year. The reports which came back are of a line that will cope with reasonable speeds without much relaying needed. There are soft spots that need attention and a viaduct which requires a lot of strengthening but asides from them, that's it. On this basis, the expenditure required to reopen the line is not excessive provided that the traffic flow will be provided on the line.
    Which Viaduct is in danger of collapsing? how much strengthening does it require and how much use is it currently getting?

    It is possibly ok to have freight trains travelling over such a viaduct but i would think that any infrastructure such as viaducts(Malahide) which are used for passenger trains should be kept in better repair than " requires a lot of strengthening "


  • #155
    LivelineDipso
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 510 ✭✭✭LivelineDipso


    Losty Dublin wrote: »

    You willbe delighted to know that professional track engineers have walked the branch and surevyed it this year. The reports which came back are of a line that will cope with reasonable speeds without much relaying needed. There are soft spots that need attention and a viaduct which requires a lot of strenghening but asides from them, that's it. On this basis, the expenditure required to reopen the line is not excessive provided that the traffic flow will be provided on the line.


    Well tat is potentially some good news for a change.

    Mind you they will probably scrap all the locos before then.


  • #156
    Losty Dublin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,245 ✭✭✭✭Losty Dublin


    LivelineDipso wrote: »
    Mind you they will probably scrap all the locos before then.

    There you go, cynican as usual :D


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  • #157
    Eiretrains
    Registered Users Posts: 270 ✭✭Eiretrains


    foggy_lad wrote: »
    Which Viaduct is in danger of collapsing? how much strengthening does it require and how much use is it currently getting?
    "
    Don't know much about the viaduct other than this picture on the old IRN photo site, it's located at Robertstown outside Foynes.


  • #158
    LivelineDipso
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 510 ✭✭✭LivelineDipso


    Losty Dublin wrote: »
    There you go, cynican as usual :D

    Can you honestly blame me with this shower running the show!


    Irish Rail promoting railfrieght is like a Rabbi selling Rashers.


  • #159
    foggy_lad
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,373 ✭✭✭✭foggy_lad


    Eiretrains wrote: »
    Don't know much about the viaduct other than this picture on the old IRN photo site, it's located at Robertstown outside Foynes.

    So it is not currently in use then except for the weed-spraying train, or is it strong enough for any train to pass over it? another example of a line that is costing Irish rail large sums of money even though it is worth nothing to the company and will likely never see passenger or freight use again.


  • #160
    Losty Dublin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,245 ✭✭✭✭Losty Dublin


    LivelineDipso wrote: »
    Can you honestly blame me with this shower running the show!.

    I don't know how much you know about rail freight but the situation from ministerial level is that it's run on a unsubsidised basis whereby all operational costs are covered from income taken in. This has been been for a long time and is one that doesn't appear to be for turning any time soon. So long as this situation remains , Irish Rail aren't in much of a position to compete for much freight flows.


  • #161
    dowlingm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,337 ✭✭✭dowlingm


    I'm merely going to re-state my existing position re: Foynes and Pallasgreen orebody. No matter how cheap it is relay the alignment and rehab the viaduct and level crossings, it's gotta be cheaper to send it the other way over existing trackage (with some improvements perhaps) to Waterford's bulk port. Might even get doubled Killonan-Limerick Junction out of it.


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  • #162
    steamengine
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,372 ✭✭✭steamengine


    Will Limerick Jct - Waterford be around for the foreseeable future - this from the most recent RPSI members news bulletin :-

    Quote

    'There are some worrying reports coming in that closure dates can be expected in
    2013 for Killonan Junction to Ballybrophy and Waterford to Limerick Junction,
    and even perhaps Ennis to Athenry.'


  • #163
    dowlingm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,337 ✭✭✭dowlingm


    Depends on when the orebody might come on stream but presumably the line would remain for a few years after cessation. Would certainly make pathing easier!


  • #164
    highdef
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,325 ✭✭✭highdef


    I saw a billboard just beside the railway bridge on Sarsfield Road in D10 this morning with a picture of a freight train headed by an 071 advertising Railfreight. Are IE actively trying to promote railfreight, other than this advertising?


  • #165
    corktina
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,733 ✭✭✭✭corktina


    paying lip-service?


  • #166
    dowlingm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,337 ✭✭✭dowlingm


    The problem with IE is that they are that truly terrible thing - a public body operating under a cloak of commercial confidentiality. Their public statements have been provably disingenuous in the past and thus trust is lacking.


  • #167
    steamengine
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,372 ✭✭✭steamengine


    dowlingm wrote: »
    IRN rumour has it that 12 pocket wagons are in Limerick for servicing with a view to re-entry to service. There doesn't seem to be clarity about intended purpose.

    Further news about that on IRN - Link


  • #168
    murphaph
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,031 ✭✭✭✭murphaph


    Losty Dublin wrote: »
    I don't know how much you know about rail freight but the situation from ministerial level is that it's run on a unsubsidised basis whereby all operational costs are covered from income taken in. This has been been for a long time and is one that doesn't appear to be for turning any time soon. So long as this situation remains , Irish Rail aren't in much of a position to compete for much freight flows.
    There's a tiny railway operator that I can see from my balcony (2 locos) that haul unit trains of coffee beans and food ingredients from 2 factories about 2 miles away up to the mainline and hand it over to DB, from where the coffee train goes back empty to Bremen to get more coffee beans (which are roasted in one of those factories near me).

    I find it amazing that this tiny railway (30 staff AFTER a merger!!) still exists after over 100 years but in Ireland it's "not possible" (not solely their own fault, but it's a combination of them and the dead hand of government).

    The coffee bean flows near me are actually "new business". They switched to rail from road in 1993 and up until 2008 they had replaced over 100k truck journeys between Bremen and Berlin with 15k train journeys. It can be done.

    (german text wiki is all I could find: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industriebahn_Berlin)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzxMwFXENwo
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAfrAllORc4&list=UUXJxK--LzDSQ8WDp3IbPj8g&index=6&feature=plcp


  • #169
    dowlingm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,337 ✭✭✭dowlingm


    I think the safety culture there is now might make it hard for a new entrant to start without serious financial backing. Even if IE was completely co-operative there's the RSC hoop to jump through.


  • #170
    murphaph
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,031 ✭✭✭✭murphaph


    dowlingm wrote: »
    I think the safety culture there is now might make it hard for a new entrant to start without serious financial backing. Even if IE was completely co-operative there's the RSC hoop to jump through.
    Possibly, the second youtube clip I added shows radio controlled shunting with the operator standing on a footplate. In Ireland there's probably some silly rule against it.


  • #171
    Jamie2k9
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,756 ✭✭✭✭Jamie2k9


    Is there any more info on the roumours of the Ballina-Waterford IWT liner starting anytime soon?


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  • #172
    metrovick001
    Registered Users Posts: 420 ✭✭metrovick001


    I dont think IWT have an interest in Waterford to be honest Jamie2k9.
    There is a rumour that DFDS will recommence a Waterford-Ballina flow soonthough.


  • #173
    Jamie2k9
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,756 ✭✭✭✭Jamie2k9


    There is a rumour that DFDS will recommence a Waterford-Ballina flow soonthough.

    That was the one I ment to post so still only a soon date.


  • #174
    out_of_the_pale
    Registered Users Posts: 2 ✭out_of_the_pale


    Jamie2k9 wrote: »

    That was the one I ment to post so still only a soon date.


    The DFDS liner service is staring on the 4th of March. 2 services each way per week


  • #175
    John Denver
    Registered Users Posts: 37 ✭John Denver


    Does anyone know which terminus the flow will start from, Ballina or Bellview Port? And when will the CPU's leave Limerick to transfer to either Waterford or Ballina?


  • #176
    Jamie2k9
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,756 ✭✭✭✭Jamie2k9


    John Denver wrote: »
    Does anyone know which terminus the flow will start from, Ballina or Bellview Port? And when will the CPU's leave Limerick to transfer to either Waterford or Ballina?

    They will have to be cleared between Waterford West and Bellview first so it may start off from there.


  • #177
    Jamie2k9
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,756 ✭✭✭✭Jamie2k9


    An 071 with pocket containers departed Inchicore this afternoon, either headed for Waterford or Ballina but I expect it was Waterford for the trail run before Monday.


  • #178
    newmug
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,571 ✭✭✭newmug


    I ujst saw on Facebook that IE are starting a NEW railfreight service from Ballina to Waterford. Anyone know what thats all about?


  • #179
    Judgement Day
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,549 ✭✭✭✭Judgement Day


    newmug wrote: »
    I ujst saw on Facebook that IE are starting a NEW railfreight service from Ballina to Waterford. Anyone know what thats all about?

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056891271


  • #180
    n0brain3r
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 919 ✭✭✭n0brain3r


    A second IWT freight train passed Sallins for Ballina today over the past few weeks I've noticed the occasional second train. Is freight traffic on the increase?


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  • #181
    davidlacey
    Registered Users Posts: 416 ✭✭davidlacey


    It could be to do with the bank holiday weekends...


  • #182
    Jamie2k9
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,756 ✭✭✭✭Jamie2k9


    There is 2 services between Ballina and Dublin Port most days, if I'm not mistaken the second was added when the DFDS liners to Waterford stopped in July.
    It could be to do with the bank holiday weekends...

    Good Friday and Bank Holidays are normal days for freight operations.


  • #183
    Rud
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 937 ✭✭✭Rud


    Anybody have any idea what times the timber trains or DFDS liners would be in Kildare tomorrow?


  • #184
    Jamie2k9
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,756 ✭✭✭✭Jamie2k9


    Rud wrote: »
    Anybody have any idea what times the timber trains or DFDS liners would be in Kildare tomorrow?

    Don't know exact times but I think the DFDS departs around 16.45 or whenever the 14.50 from Waterford arrives and the Timer to Ballina is there at lunchtime around 13.45 or slightly lather.


  • #185
    kc56
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 433 ✭✭kc56


    Jamie2k9 wrote: »
    Don't know exact times but I think the DFDS departs around 16.45 or whenever the 14.50 from Waterford arrives and the Timer to Ballina is there at lunchtime around 13.45 or slightly lather.

    That's about right. Yesterday the empty timber was in Kildare around 1400-1430.

    On Easter Monday, a totally empty container train on flats was in Kildare (perhaps after the holiday weekend there were no containers for Waterford?)


  • #186
    101sean
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,884 ✭✭✭101sean


    Four page feature in next month's Railway Magazine on Irish railfreight inc a cab ride on the Tara mines run.


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  • #187
    roundymac
    Registered Users Posts: 2,712 ✭✭✭roundymac


    Heard on the one o clock news that Ireland could be getting back it's beet quota 2017. Planting would start in 2016. A new company Beet Ireland I think the name was will use the beet for a varity of uses,ie; sugar, bio fuels, methane, etc. The question is where will the new factory be and will it be rail connected?


  • #188
    topnotch
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 410 ✭✭topnotch


    roundymac wrote: »
    Heard on the one o clock news that Ireland could be getting back it's beet quota 2017. Planting would start in 2016. A new company Beet Ireland I think the name was will use the beet for a varity of uses,ie; sugar, bio fuels, methane, etc. The question is where will the new factory be and will it be rail connected?

    If a new plant is built it would probably be in Carlow, Kilkenny or Wexford so Mallow would then become the loading point.


  • #189
    dowlingm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,337 ✭✭✭dowlingm


    Presumably the beet wagons are razor blades at this point?

    No doubt the WIRC are already lobbying for Tuam :D

    I'd rather see the plant built close to the growers with rail transport of containerised end product for export markets. Means you could only restart in one region of the country but that might be as much quota as is available. Hauling the beet around the country seems like less value added to me.

    {EDIT: wherever production restarts I hope it doesn't end up lining Greencore's pocket with their rush to close their facilities and try to make property plays out of them}


  • #190
    corktina
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,733 ✭✭✭✭corktina


    topnotch wrote: »
    If a new plant is built it would probably be in Carlow, Kilkenny or Wexford so Mallow would then become the loading point.

    it's not logical to load in Mallow when the road system is so bad in North Cork. I well remember the misery of being stuck behind a tractor hauling beet and no chance to overtake for 15 miles


  • #191
    cbl593h
    Closed Accounts Posts: 193 ✭✭cbl593h


    http://corkindependent.com/20130228/news/no-new-sugar-beet-factory-for-cork-beet-ireland-factory-set-for-tipp-announcement-S60443.html

    Put this in another thread yesterday, fits here too.


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  • #192
    Captain Chaos
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,174 ✭✭✭✭Captain Chaos


    cbl593h wrote: »
    http://corkindependent.com/20130228/news/no-new-sugar-beet-factory-for-cork-beet-ireland-factory-set-for-tipp-announcement-S60443.html

    Put this in another thread yesterday, fits here too.

    Not a hope of this going by rail. I doubt there is any rolling stock left to move it and not a hope of any rail spurs being built to facilitate it either. IE don't want any more freight business and it's very clear in hope they operate and maintain or lack there off of unused sidings, spurs and yards.


  • #193
    kc56
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 433 ✭✭kc56


    topnotch wrote: »
    If a new plant is built it would probably be in Carlow, Kilkenny or Wexford so Mallow would then become the loading point.

    Indo had a report it was going to be Lisheen.

    http://www.independent.ie/business/farming/beet-ireland-to-set-up-home-at-lisheen-mines-29093690.html


  • #194
    Judgement Day
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,549 ✭✭✭✭Judgement Day


    Captain Chaos wrote: »
    Not a hope of this going by rail. I doubt there is any rolling stock left to move it and not a hope of any rail spurs being built to facilitate it either. IE don't want any more rail business and it's very clear in hope they operate and maintain or lack there off of unused sidings, spurs and yards.

    FYP.


  • #195
    sporty56
    Registered Users Posts: 80 ✭✭sporty56


    Not exactly Lisheen but original Galmoy facility( in Laois ?) Lisheen now own Galmoy's ore body and don't need the extensive surface facilities already in place as they will access the ore underground. It's a similar set up to Tara Mines taking over Bula's ore body but in Bula's case no surface facilities had been constructed.


  • #196
    pigtown
    Registered Users Posts: 1,318 ✭✭✭pigtown


    Does anyone have an idea what IÉ's intentions are for the Mungret Railway line in Limerick. They have recently paved over the level crossings so it's no longer passable, but according to this article: http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/development-and-planning/crescent-wins-with-playground-pitch-to-council-1-4800740 , IÉ refused to provide permission for the construction of a pedestrian bridge over the line. Why would they refuse if the line is no longer in use?


  • #197
    rainbowdash
    Closed Accounts Posts: 878 ✭✭✭rainbowdash


    pigtown wrote: »
    Does anyone have an idea what IÉ's intentions are for the Mungret Railway line in Limerick. They have recently paved over the level crossings so it's no longer passable, but according to this article: http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/development-and-planning/crescent-wins-with-playground-pitch-to-council-1-4800740 , IÉ refused to provide permission for the construction of a pedestrian bridge over the line. Why would they refuse if the line is no longer in use?

    I can't see the line ever being used again. Reading the article it seems the pedestrian overbridge was requested in 2008, when the line was still in use.

    I would guess that road access to the proposed playing fields would have been across the track using a level crossing hence Irish Rail said no.


  • #198
    dowlingm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,337 ✭✭✭dowlingm


    Sugar processed on a heavy metal mine site, mmmm... why not put it on the old Irish Steel plant altogether? I wonder if the current owners are trying to avoid having to remediate the land back to the way it was by touting it as an industrial site.

    Lisheen/Galmoy should have been rail connected from day one anyway, given its relative proximity to both the Dublin Cork and Dublin Waterford lines, rather than batter the roads of the midlands with ore trucks.


  • #199
    dowlingm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,337 ✭✭✭dowlingm


    Annual Report 2013 p38

    Railfreight lost 1.638m Euro (after track charges and exceptionals) compared to 1.776m Euro in 2012.


  • #200
    end of the road
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,143 ✭✭✭✭end of the road


    dowlingm wrote: »
    Annual Report 2013 p38

    Railfreight lost 1.638m Euro (after track charges and exceptionals) compared to 1.776m Euro in 2012.

    so the losses are getting smaller thankfully, hope this will continue and the sector grows again (it should have never been let go down in the first place but whats done is done)

    I'm very highly educated. I know words, i have the best words, nobody has better words then me.



  • #201
    davidlacey
    Registered Users Posts: 416 ✭✭davidlacey


    end of the road wrote: »
    so the losses are getting smaller thankfully, hope this will continue and the sector grows again (it should have never been let go down in the first place but whats done is done)

    why would it be at such a loss with so little of it at this stage!


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